The Role Of Kinship In Beowulf '

Sullivan Erger Section 20
Essay Question #4 Kieran Lyons

If you Google kinship in 2014 you get a basic definition of “blood relationship”. Hop in a time machine and jump back to around 500 A.D. and kinship isn’t just another noun in the English language. Respect and loyalty to your kinship is a way of life to the people of the Anglo-Saxon period, a custom perhaps many have lost today. Anglo-Saxons reigned in Great Britain around the 5th century and did a swell job of establishing themselves and their culture using writings and other literary works. Beowulf, an Old English poem that is often referred to as one of the most important works of Anglo-Saxon literature, is set during the Anglo-Saxon period. Beowulf undoubtedly
displays many instances where kinship is highly revered and respected through out their culture and shows the positive rewards that come about by staying loyal to one’s own line of kin. These examples can give us a better insight on the negative and positive benefits of highly respecting your kinship during this day in age. Loyalty towards your kinship plays a big role in defining who you are during this Anglo-Saxon period.
In lines 260-295 we read of Beowulf introducing himself, his men, and his reasoning for being here. Beowulf establishes his identity by introducing himself as the son of Ecgtheow. By doing this we can surely note that Beowulf introduces himself in this manner out of admiration and honor for his father and family line. This is a positive consequence for Beowulf in the sense that he has already established a reputation by inferring he is Ecgtheow’s son without having to prove himself. During this period introducing oneself as the son of someone who was highly valued by the people can lead to automatic respect, loyalty, and benefits. This can be very beneficial during your greeting cause it gives the outsider an idea of who you are and where you have come
from. Not shortly after we are able to identify another example of advantageous benefits wreaked from loyalty to kinship. In lines 372-389 Hrothgar and Beowulf exchange words and identify that Hrothgar paid the wergild (death-price) somewhere along the line for Ecgtheow’s actions. Hrothgar now has the chance to receive help from Beowulf due to this past act. Without strong reverence for your kin during this time who knows what Beowulf might have done. Very rarely would one step up and go out of his way to help a neighboring tribe in any other culture besides Anglo-Saxon. Seldom do we see this happen during any other time period after this although venerating your kin and living out their legacies plays a strong role in other cultures it doesn’t impact other tribes of the past or future as much as it did the Anglo-Saxons. Perhaps it’s key to recognize that a favor or sacrifice made in the past by your or another member of your lineage can lead to a plethora of benefits received by both parties. Hrothgar completed favorable tasks in the past for the kin of Beowulf and now his actions are being rewarded. This established relationship between Beowulf’s lineage and Hrothgar may very well lead into many more acts of indebtedness throughout the poem. So far we can acknowledge that Beowulf’s reputation has benefitted from introducing himself as son of Ecgtheow. Soon after Hrothgar benefitted from Beowulf’s respect to his kin by helping Hrothgar defeat the horrible Grendel. The tables have flipped and in lines 1008-1062 readers digest all of the lavish rewards that have come about consequentially due to Beowulf’s actions of defeating Grendel, the horrifying demon that has lurked the halls of Heorot for too long. An immense feast with lavishing decorations and an overabundance of gifts has been presented to Beowulf and his men. The blade of Healfdene, horses, weapons, heirlooms, and treasures are all gifted to Beowulf, which perfectly exemplifies a positive outcome due to strong homage paid to your lineage. Beowulf has received his rewards, Grendel is dead, and Hrothgar no longer has to fear the demon therefore life should seem perfect in the land of the Danes.
False. Kinship has played a crucial role in the poem so far it can’t stop now. Perhaps it seems as if everyone is full of joy and it’s now safe for Beowulf to return home but there must be one offended spirit lurking around due to the death of Grendel. Right around lines 1279-1306 Grendel’s mother comes prowling for revenge. Just as loyalty to kin has played an important role to Hrothgar and Beowulf it so does too for Grendel and his mother. The first reading of a negative consequence has come about due to Beowulf’s actions that resulted from respect towards his father’s obligation to Hrothgar. Beowulf now has a large target on his back due to his overthrow of Grendel. During the Anglo-Saxon period death of a kin was only resolvable by avenging the death of the attacker or by paying a wergild, which often times wasn’t favorable. Grendel’s mother sought out to do the same in order to fulfill her reverence for her son. Lines 1501-1556 of Beowulf encapsulate his battle with Grendel’s mother proving to be a dangerous one. Beowulf has yet again proved himself as well as his valor and strength. His win over Grendel’s mother will most definitely lead to an assortment of gifts from Hrothgar and his
people. Our concluding example of positive consequences endured is similar to that of the rewards received after defeating Grendel. Around lines 1866-1867 Beowulf receives yet again more gifts as a result of defeating Grendel’s mother. By staying loyal to his family line Beowulf has incurred different battles and relationships that have benefitted him in good and bad ways. His loyalty to King Hrothgar has resulted in the accumulation of many treasures, horses, and other valuable possessions. Beowulf unquestionably defines a man of loyalty, honor, and respect with the actions he executed, tasks he performed, and triumphs he overcame throughout the epic poem. Aside from Beowulf, having a strong loyalty to your kin can have endless results and will always lead to stronger relationships, a respectable reputation, and hopefully gifts and heirlooms. The poet starts Beowulf off with an example of strong kinship between Beowulf and his father, Ecgtheow. From there Beowulf develops a relationship with Hrothgar after hearing Hrothgar was enduring troubles in his land. We must acknowledge that Beowulf did this out of self-recognized duty owed to Hrothgar from his father’s doings. Each event leads to the next example of strong kinship ties and their effects. As a result of completing one task for Hrothgar came another task presented which was fighting Grendel’s mother. Beowulf won both battles presented to him and as a result received an enormous amount of gifts, which he passed on to his own village’s royalty. Beowulf clearly exemplifies multiple situations that vary in detail but ultimately all contain the same theme of maintaining a strong loyal relationship to your kin whether they’re dead or alive.